FILE - This Oct. 14, 2009 file shows the red and yellow signs with the trademark golden arches of a McDonald's in Pittsburgh. A McDonald's in Lynwood, Calif., has turned its golden-arches sign upside down to celebrate International Women's Day and the company said it's flipping its logo on all its digital channels to celebrate on Thursday. less

FILE - This Oct. 14, 2009 file shows the red and yellow signs with the trademark golden arches of a McDonald's in Pittsburgh. A McDonald's in Lynwood, Calif., has turned its golden-arches sign upside down to ... more

Photo: Keith Srakocic, Associated Press

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Here is a gallery of secret menu items that can be found at fast-food restaurants...

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McDonald's is flipping its iconic arches upside down — and it's a classic example of social-justice marketing gone wrong

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A McDonald's in Lynwood, California, has turned its golden-arches sign upside down.

The company says it did so in "celebration of women everywhere."

McDonald's is flipping its logo on all its digital channels to celebrate International Women's Day on Thursday.

People driving by a McDonald's in Lynwood, California, might be baffled by an upside-down sign. The golden arches, typically standing as an M, have been flipped over to become a W.

But this isn't a bizarre prank or a careless mistake. The upside-down arches are in "celebration of women everywhere," a McDonald's representative told Business Insider in an email.

Patricia Williams, the location's franchisee, flipped her restaurant's sign in honor of International Women's Day on Thursday.

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McDonald's is Flipping its Logo for International Women's Day One of the fast food chains stores in Lynwood, CA actually went so far as to flip its sign over. McDonald's, who will also flip its logo on its digital channels on Thursday, told Business Insider it was done in "celebration of women everywhere." ...For the first time in our brand history, we flipped our iconic arches for International Women's Day in honor of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere and especially in our restaurants. From restaurant crew and management to our C-suite of senior leadership, women play invaluable roles at all levels, and together with our independent franchise owners, we're committed to their success. Other brands, like Barbie, are also offering products for International Women's Day.

Media: Wibbitz

McDonald's says it will turn its logo upside down on all its digital channels, such as Twitter and Instagram, on Thursday, while 100 restaurants will have special "packaging, crew shirts and hats, and bag stuffers" to celebrate.

"In celebration of women everywhere, and for the first time in our brand history, we flipped our iconic arches for International Women's Day in honor of the extraordinary accomplishments of women everywhere and especially in our restaurants," McDonald's global chief diversity officer, Wendy Lewis, said in a statement.

(McDonald's)

Lewis continued: "From restaurant crew and management to our C-suite of senior leadership, women play invaluable roles at all levels, and together with our independent franchise owners, we're committed to their success."

Several brands, including Old Navy and Barbie, have debuted products to honor International Women's Day. Meanwhile, some companies — such as BrewDog, which rolled out what it said was a satirical "beer for girls" called Pink IPA — have been criticized for using the day to advertise to women in what some consider a reductive manner.